Graduating students make the most of an uncertain future
An opportunity to do independent research, studying a new language and working in an educational system in a foreign country are projects that Porter Illi can look forward to when he leaves for India in June for nine months on a Fulbright scholarship.
Illi, a senior double majoring in political science and international studies said he started his applications in July before turning them in during the fall. He said there were about 100 to 200 applicants who applied for the scholarship to India, but only 15 applicants were granted the scholarship. He chose India because of the diversity in religions, languages, perspectives and socioeconomic statuses.
“I feel really good about it because I didn’t have set plans and I was putting a lot of money on this one,” said Illi. “Now it’s a relief to know that I’ll be graduating and moving on to something.”
This will be the third time that Illi has been to India, he said. He also said aside from teaching English in a school in Delhi, he will do language acquisition for Hindi and a research project on the effects of the modern economical and political rise in India that is affecting traditional demographics and religious conservatism in the country.
Aside from having experience traveling to 23 countries, most of which have been in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, he also speaks English, Spanish, French and Arabic. Illi said traveling and reading are the two best ways to learn.
“You can do so much reading about a certain region, but until you’re actually there, it doesn’t mean anything to you,” he said. “I love meeting new people and learning specific things from each culture that I can implement in my own culture, my own personal life and become a better citizen in the entire world.”
He said for every international scholarship that he has applied for, the recruiters are looking for strong, unofficial ambassadors of the US and someone who can understand other cultures and integrate well in the new culture.
Andrew Yerka, a senior in public relations and marketing said he has turned in over 300 job applications, but due to the sheer number of applicants and the competitive nature of the job, he still has not found a job.
“I’ve taken my resume and cover letter to three career development specialists and unanimously they have told me my resume is perfect, my cover letter is very effective, my work experience is top-notch and my portfolio is top-notch,” Yerka said. “By all accounts I should be getting calls and getting interviews for these positions, but I’ve received no phone calls.”
He said human resource professionals are reporting that they receive between 300 to 400 applications per entry level position and over half of them are already unemployed industry professionals who have at least five to ten years of experience on top of their education.
Yerka, who has a wife and a seven month old daughter said he has to provide for his family. He pays $50 a month for a premier LinkedIn account and has 100 percent complete career profiles on Monster.com, Indeed.com and careerbuilder.com, he said. He also said he registered with the department of workforce services in 30 states, receives constant emails with job updates and sends out 10 to 20 applications per day.
“Another problem that I’ve been facing is I will get calls, but they’re companies that are less legitimate or companies that I don’t want to hear from like multi-level marketing, start your own business, get up the pyramid, put people under you,” he said. “They’re like leeches, as soon as you put your resume out there, they’ll come try to feed on you.”
He said he has also considered the military since it offers job security, benefits and income. Students graduating from the public relations program at USU do not have the necessary skills to get them work, he said. He also said students in the department have very subpar writing skills and there is a lack of teaching strategy and getting students to think strategically and seriously.
“The department is a little too light-hearted for the competitive environment that’s out there,” he said. “While I believe college shouldn’t be this dim, dark experience, the PR department really needs to knuckle down and get serious about what we’re teaching because our graduates don’t stand a chance in the competitive environment.”
Karmella Dolecheck, a senior in animal, dairy and veterinary science said she will be going to the University of Kentucky for her master’s in dairy reproductive management.
She said she received an email from her previous employer who told her there was an assistantship opening at the University of Kentucky. She applied for the assistantship, underwent a phone interview and found out th she was offered the assistantship when the person in charge of the assistantship sent her a text.
“I’ve looked at other schools, but the reason this one stood out the most is because they wanted to work with me,” she said. “It’s really important that they’re excited to have you there just as much as you are excited to be there because it’s not very fun to work by yourself the whole time and try to do everything yourself.”
Dolecheck said students should not turn down opportunities they are interested in just because they think they need to get a job right away. They have to be open and not assume that the degree they graduated in is something that they’ll be doing the rest of their lives.
Scot Marsden, a senior finance and economics, said he will be getting married a week after finals before moving to New York to work for Deloitte & Touche, a professional services firm and one of the big four accounting firms.
Last August, he said he participated in the Career Exploration Program with the Huntsman School of Business and had lunch with a USU alumnus who is also one of the directors from the consulting division at the firm.
Marsden said he then went for his first round of interviews at the office of Deloitte in Salt Lake and they sent a referral to New York and gave their approval. The New York office later flew him out to the city in November and he had more interviews before he was offered the job, he said.
“I had faith that whatever would happen will be in my best interest,” he said. “It’s one of those things that sometimes with your future, it’s so hard to know where you’re going to be, what you’re going to be doing, but if you can just put it in the hands of, for me, my beliefs are in the divine creator, put that in His hands, do the best I can and it all works out.”
He said he stood out probably because of how different his character is compared to the people on the east coast. This is because, he said, most people who applied for the job are from the east coast and he is one of the few applicants from Utah.
He said USU has tremendously prepared him for his career. One of the greatest things about USU and the Huntsman School of Business specifically, he said, is the tight knit feel along with the academic rigor. Marsden said it is easy to get involved and gain leadership skills at USU compared to other schools.
He said students should start looking for jobs early. He also said it is important to have a personal connection with the company.
“If you just apply online, send them a resume, there’s nothing for them to remember, there’s no emotions,” he said. “If you talk to someone face to face, there’s
a memory, there’s emotions, there’s an impression.”
– nadiah.johari@aggiemail.usu.edu